Canara Rob Gilt Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Canara Rob Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹83.545 as of 03 Sep 2026 and an AUM of ₹120 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 3.99%, 6.07% and 5.45%, and the fund sits in the Medium Risk category. Our view is that this is a conservative gilt option with an income-led return profile rather than a growth-heavy one, so it can fit investors who want sovereign debt exposure and are comfortable with rate-sensitive moves.

The benchmark comparison is mixed: the fund has stayed ahead of the benchmark over 1 year and 3 years, but the benchmark has been slightly stronger over 5 years. That combination, along with a portfolio built almost entirely from government securities and cash-like balances, points to a fund that may suit investors looking for relatively contained credit risk and a steady debt allocation rather than aggressive return chasing.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹83.545 as of 03 Sep 2026
AUM	₹120 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.52%
Launch Date	01 Jan 2013
Min SIP	₹1,000
Risk Category	Medium Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Debt
Exit Load	No exit load after holding period
Fund Managers	Bhupesh Kalyani, Avnish Jain

The fund is managed by Bhupesh Kalyani and Avnish Jain.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.09%	-3.01%
3M	1.90%	1.95%
1Y	3.99%	-4.40%
3Y	6.07%	5.74%
5Y	5.45%	6.27%

The short-term pattern has been steadier than the benchmark’s recent swings. Over 1 month, the fund was mildly positive while the benchmark was still negative, and over 3 months both were positive, with the benchmark fractionally ahead.

The 1-year gap is more striking: the fund remained in positive territory while the benchmark was negative. That tells us the fund handled the latest stretch better than the index, even if the move was not dramatic in absolute return terms.

Over 3 years, the fund has continued to edge ahead of the benchmark, which suggests a reasonably consistent compounding pattern. The 5-year picture is different, because the benchmark has slightly outpaced the fund over the full period. In our view, that split between a stronger recent phase and a slightly softer longer run is important for a gilt fund, since bond-market cycles can reward different duration exposures at different times.

The fund’s return path also looks uneven rather than linear. That is normal for a gilt strategy, where interest-rate shifts can lift one stretch and weigh on another. The key point for investors is that the recent improvement did not fully erase the longer-term gap versus the benchmark, so the track record is better described as competitive than dominant.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Canara Rob Gilt?

A fund's past returns alone don't tell you whether you should buy it today or continue holding it.

The right decision depends on factors such as your current allocation, purchase price, risk profile, investment horizon and the role this fund plays in your overall portfolio.

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Peer comparison

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
Canara Rob Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan	3.99%	6.07%	5.45%
Bandhan Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan	8.62%	7.96%	6.37%
Franklin India Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.95%	6.58%	5.43%
UTI Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.01%	6.68%	5.73%
Bandhan 10 year Constant Maturity Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan	5.88%	7.78%	5.88%
ICICI Pru Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan	5.57%	7.26%	6.68%

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.

On the latest 1-year figure, this fund trails all five peer funds listed here. The gap is especially visible versus the stronger peer returns in the upper single digits, which shows that recent momentum has been softer even though the fund still stayed positive.

The 3-year view is more balanced: the fund is ahead of some peers and behind others, so the mid-cycle outcome is competitive rather than clearly weaker. The 5-year figure is similar, with a result that sits in the middle of the peer set instead of standing apart at either end. Taken together, the short-term picture looks less compelling than the longer-term one, while the longer-term picture still remains broadly in line with the peer group rather than materially stronger.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
6.48% GOI 2035 (06-Oct-2035)	Government Securities	24.10%
GOI FRB 2033 (22-Sep-2033)	Government Securities	21.57%
7.18% Maharashtra SDL 28-Jun-29	Government Securities	20.79%
6.94% GOI 2036 (11-May-2036)	Government Securities	20.67%
TREPS	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	4.73%
Net Receivables / (Payables)	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	2.67%
7.38% GOI 20-Jun-27	Government Securities	2.09%
6.64% Tamil Nadu SDL 11-Mar-29	Government Securities	1.94%
7.17% GOI 2030 (17-Apr-2030)	Government Securities	1.34%

The single largest holding is 6.48% GOI 2035 at 24.10%, which is a meaningful position and likely to have greater influence on the fund than any other individual security. The next three holdings are also large, at 21.57%, 20.79% and 20.67%, so the portfolio is clearly anchored in a small cluster of long-dated government exposures.

Weight then falls sharply into the lower part of the disclosed list. TREPS and net receivables together account for a modest cash buffer, while the remaining bond positions are much smaller at 2.09%, 1.94% and 1.34%. That drop from the top four positions to the tail shows that the disclosed portfolio is not evenly spread across holdings.

Because the full set of disclosed holdings is only nine and the top holdings already account for 99.9% of the portfolio, concentration is high in the sense that most of the exposure sits in a handful of sovereign and quasi-sovereign securities. That setup can help keep credit risk low, but it also means duration and interest-rate sensitivity may be more noticeable than in a more diversified debt portfolio.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors with a moderate tolerance for interest-rate movement and a preference for government-backed debt exposure. The 1-year result is weaker than the longer-term pattern, but the 3-year and 5-year figures show a steadier compounding profile that is broadly in line with what many gilt investors expect.

It can suit a longer horizon, especially if the goal is to stay invested through rate cycles rather than chase quick gains. The trade-off is that the portfolio is concentrated in a small set of long-dated sovereign securities, so returns may improve when the rate backdrop is favourable and soften when bond yields move against the fund. Investors who want a debt allocation with relatively low credit risk may find that balance acceptable.

Tax and exit load

Holding period	Tax rate	Description
Units held less than 1 year	20%	Short-term capital gains tax
Units held more than 1 year	12.5%	Long-term capital gains tax

Exit load: No exit load after holding period.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Canara Rob Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹83.545 as of 03 Sep 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?

The fund’s 1-year return is 3.99%, the 3-year return is 6.07% and the 5-year return is 5.45%.

How has the fund done versus the benchmark?

It has beaten the benchmark over 1 year and 3 years, while the benchmark has been slightly ahead over 5 years. Over 3 months, the two have been close, with the benchmark just above the fund.

How does it compare with peer gilt funds on recent returns?

Its 1-year return is lower than the peer funds listed here, while its 3-year and 5-year returns sit in the middle of the group. That makes the short-term picture softer than the longer-term picture.

Is there a minimum SIP amount?

Yes, the minimum SIP amount is ₹1,000.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?

The fund is managed by Bhupesh Kalyani and Avnish Jain. There is no exit load after the holding period.

Bottom line

Canara Rob Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan shows a steadier longer-term pattern than its latest 1-year number suggests, and it has also held up better than the benchmark in the most recent 1-year period. Against the listed peers, the short-term return is softer, while the mid- and longer-term results sit in a more middle-of-the-pack zone. The portfolio is heavily anchored in government securities, which supports the fund’s conservative debt character but also keeps duration sensitivity relevant. It is best viewed as a gilt allocation for investors who can tolerate rate-driven swings and want sovereign exposure rather than a high-octane return profile.

Published on 4 September 2026 at 2:38 PM IST

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RIA disclosure

Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing. This review is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. (earlier known as Uniapps Global Research Pvt. Ltd.) under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639 for general informational purposes and is not personalized investment advice.